--- description: “To say that black people have made progress would be to say they deserve what happened to them before” title: Chris Rock: How We Talk About Race in the U.S. Is 'Nonsense' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9a8b7e899f08e3ba/69876b8af887dcab06e88ab2/chris-rock-race-america.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [celebrities](/tag/celebrities/) ## celebrities Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Chris Rock: How We Talk About Race in U.S. Is 'Nonsense' by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 1, 2014 2:25 PM CUT  Actor Chris Rock poses backstage during the Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood, Calif. on Nov. 14, 2014. Actor Chris Rock poses backstage during the Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood, Calif. on Nov. 14, 2014.Danny Moloshok—Reuters by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 1, 2014 2:25 PM CUT Chris Rock has some thoughts on race relations in America: they’re a myth. In a wide-ranging cover interview with [_New York Magazine_](http://www.vulture.com/2014/11/chris-rock-frank-rich-in-conversation.html "undefined")’s Frank Rich, the comedian and film director addressed race in the Obama era saying, “when we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense.” Rock continues, “There are no race relations. White people were crazy. Now they’re not as crazy. To say that black people have made progress would be to say they deserve what happened to them before.” **MORE**: [The One Battle Michael Brown’s Family Will Win](http://time.com/3606376/police-cameras-ferguson-evidence/ "undefined") ### Ferguson Ignites With Violence After Grand Jury Decision  Law enforcement stands in full gear by tanks in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  Protesters stand amid tear gas and smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Barrett Emke for TIME  Riot policemen clash with protesters in Ferguson Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Alexey Furman—EPA  St. Louis County Police tactical team members open their reserve supply of tear gas to be fired as they take cover behind an armored truck on S. Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. David Carson—St Louis Post Dispatch/Polaris  Law enforcement responds to protestors in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  A woman speaks into a megaphone during protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  A man lies on the ground amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  Police in riot gear tangle with a woman in front of emergency vehicles in Ferguson Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA  A demonstrator puts his hands in the air amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  A law enforcement officer pushes back protestors after they destroyed a police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Michael B. Thomas—AFP/Getty Images  Demonstrators attempt to push over a police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov, 24, 2014. Xinhua/Sipa  Cars burn at a car dealership as demonstrators protest the Grand Jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson over the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on No.v 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA  A car burns on the street after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Jim Young—Reuters  Protestors parade in the parking lot of a burning auto parts store in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Tannen Maury—EPA  A demonstrator walks down the street after getting tear gas in her face and attempting to cleanse her eyes in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA  Patrick London surveys the damage at his fast food restaurant London's Wing House after it was looted during protests on Nov. 24, 2014. Barrett Emke for TIME  Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, covers her face while standing alongside other demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  Police stand near a burned out police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Christian Gooden—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Polaris  A man stands by a burned out car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014 Barrett Emke for TIME  A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on Nov. 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Mo. Scott Olson—Getty Images  A police officer holds her gun during clashes with protesters in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images Rock has long been an outspoken on race, and race relations in America. In the interview, he compares the relationship between blacks and whites in America to Tina Turner’s abusive marriage to Ike Turner. --- > “” --- [Read the whole interview at _New York_](http://www.vulture.com/2014/11/chris-rock-frank-rich-in-conversation.html "undefined") _Read next:_ [_From ESSENCE’s Editor: Ferguson’s Emotional Aftermath_](http://time.com/3605645/ferguson-emotional-aftermath/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/"},"headline":"Chris Rock: How We Talk About Race in U.S. Is 'Nonsense'","datePublished":"2014-12-01T14:25:39.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:06:52.456Z","description":"“When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense.”","url":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/","keywords":["celebrities","Obama","Race","us","Ferguson topic"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9a8b7e899f08e3ba/69876b8af887dcab06e88ab2/chris-rock-race-america.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maya Rhodan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9a8b7e899f08e3ba/69876b8af887dcab06e88ab2/chris-rock-race-america.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Chris Rock poses with his award during the Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood","caption":"Chris Rock poses with his award during the Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood","creditText":"Danny Moloshok—Reuters","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/celebrities/","name":"celebrities"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/","name":"Chris Rock: How We Talk About Race in U.S. Is 'Nonsense'"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"See Protests Across the US Following Ferguson Grand Jury Verdict","description":"See Protests Across the US Following Ferguson Grand Jury Verdict","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/LYSezUfL/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-11-25T19:36:43.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/LYSezUfL.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/","duration":"PT1M57S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3611537/chris-rock-obama-racial-progress/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```